what is nature deficit disorder?
As a pathway to health and happiness, our growing disconnection to nature should be a concern.
Nature Deficit Disorder (NDD) is a form of suffering that comes from a sense of disconnection from nature. The effects of Nature Deficit Disorder include attention difficulties and increased aggression, mental health challenges including anxiety, depression, and stress in both children and adults, obesity and reduced immune function, and a weakened sense of environmental stewardship.
Research shows that people who are connected with nature report being happier, feeling more vital, and having more meaning in their lives (Cervinka et al., 2011; Piff et al., 2015; Zhang et al., 2015) and this is true even when we are connected to nature in small doses. Viewing nature in images and videos seems to shift our sense of self, diminishing self-entitlement and self-importance while increasing feelings of gratitude and awe, as well as prosocial tendencies, including generosity, cooperation, altruism, humility, and kindness (Piff et al., 2015; Zhang et al., 2015). Being in nature, or even just viewing pictures of nature, reduces the physiological symptoms of stress in our bodies, assists in faster recovery from illness and surgery, improves mood and overall well-being, and even activates specific reward circuits in the brain associated with dopamine release that give us a sense of purpose, joy, and energy (Keltner et al., 2013; Ulrich, 1984; Velarde and Tveit, 2007). Dr. Lisa Nisbet, a psychology professor at Trent University, has studied how our connection to nature influences well-being and behaviour, coining the term nature-relatedness to measure how related to nature we are. Her research shows that people with higher nature-relatedness report greater happiness, vitality, and life satisfaction, and this is true even if a person is in nature for a short period of time. Nature-relatedness is found to be linked to pro-environmental identity and greater concern for all living things, not just humans. Nature-relatedness is also associated with lower materialism, greater mindfulness, and a stronger sense of self. The good news is that nature connectedness, or relatedness, can be increased through greater exposure to nature experiences.
Here are some ways to reconnect with nature:
Going for an awe walk, forest bathing, camping, gardening, hiking, biking, running, kayaking, growing plants in your home, putting a birdfeeder in your backyard, watching a sunrise/sunset, using field guides/apps to learn about nature, reading nature-related articles or books, taking pictures of the natural world, keeping a nature journal, visiting a park, helping maintain a community garden...
How will you reconnect with nature today?
~Kate
